Breaking my lease?

Question

I'm going to have to break my lease in my apartment, I just can't afford to live there anymore. I'm having to move back in with my parents for a while, at least until my son's father starts being responsible and paying his child support.

Anyways - in my lease it says that if I break the lease I have to pay 2 months rent. Do rental agencies usually work with you to get this amount paid off or will I have to come up with this amount right away?

I'm more than willing to get this paid off, I don't want any negative hits on my credit, but at the same time, there's no way for me to come up with that amount of money by the end of August either. I'd be more than willing to work out some sort of payment plan to get this debt paid off as soon as I possibly can.

Please, no negative comments, I'm under enough stress and I don't need any negativity right now!

Thanks :)

Answer 1

Sorry people are being so nasty to you. You are doing the responsible thing by moving out when you can't pay than waiting for them to have to evict you for non-payment. They will know that too.

I would try calling the rental company. You might have to ask who you should direct your questions to, but ask them what your options are for payment and if it's possible to work out a payment plan so that it doesn't get sent to collections. It's expensive for them to send a debt to collections and if they can avoid it, they should want to.

There's no law though that prohbits them from sending it to collections, so the only thing you really can do is talk to them. BE honest and upfront about how much you can afford to give them and when and make a plan you can stick to.

Does that include the forfeiting of your security deposit? Or is it in addition? Because if you have a security deposit coming back, you may be able to use that towards it as well.

Good luck to you. I'm so sorry you're going through this.

Answer 2

OK, you signed a contract, gave your word and now you're breaking it.  So there are consequences, and you're right to start with reading the lease.  

How long have you been there?  More than a year, or is this the first lease?  LL is more likely to be willing to work with you if you're a longtime tenant rather than a new tenant.  Go to LL, explain the situation and ASK what you can work out.  Don't make any offers, ask him what can be worked out.  Tell him you're willing to be VERY cooperative in showing the apartment and helping him get it re-rented.  Until you talk to him you won't know.  But the longer you delay, and the less notice you give him, the less cooperative he's likely to be.  Don't do a sublease, you want OUT of the lease and don't want to be responsible for some stranger.

Best of luck in your more.  Make good decisions for your future and your child's not the poor ones recently.

Answer 3

I would talk to the landlord.  There is a good chance he will work with you on a payment plan.  Also you could talk to him about a sublease, find someone to rent your apartment for the landlord so he has no reason to let you out of your lease.

Answer 4

I think a conversation with the landlord should sort this out.  You sound a very responsible person and I'm sure your landlord will figure this out soon enough.  Most people just want to "up and run" and leave the landlord in the lurch - you have a more responsible approach to this so I'm sure he/she would be able to come to some arrangement with you.  Alternatively you could offer to pay for the advertising for  him to get another tenant.  Hope you can sort your problems out - sounds like you have a certain someone letting you and your son down and it seems unfair that it should affect your life so badly - you deserve better.